The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2015, and October 31, 2016 (see FAQ for exceptions), are automatically nominated for the 2016 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on November 3, 2016, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.

The “funny, frenzied tale of a terrified man plummeting helplessly into his own adulthood” (Kids These Days); a passionate, nuanced drama about Southern race relations (The Secret of Magic); and a literate, dystopian love story (On Such a Full Sea): They are some of the recently published books we’re absorbing now that are some of the best books out at the moment. It’s cold out; keep the chill at bay by discovering one of these great new reads.

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